ROS wins European eGovernment award
Revenue's on-line service (ROS) has today (24/11/05) picked up an award for being one of Europe's most innovative public services. European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Ms Viviane Reding presented the award at a conference on European eGovernment in Manchester. ROS took the award in the 'impact' category, which measures the benefit of the eGovernment service to citizens, businesses and government.
"Revenue-on-line is not only providing businesses and citizens with an easy to use facility, but has also allowed the administration to redeploy staff to important compliance and investigative work," said Commissioner Reding.
Minister for State at the Department of an Taoiseach, Tom Kitt T.D., said:
"I am delighted that the success of the Revenue on-line service has been recognised at an international level with today's award. ROS is a shining example of how Ireland is succeeding in using information technologies to deliver effective and efficient front-line services to all users."
Welcoming the news of the ROS success Revenue Chairman, Frank Daly said:
"We are delighted with this great European achievement which is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all of the people involved in our ROS service. I would also like to offer sincere thanks to the people who use the system: the ultimate accolade for us is that fact that our customers sign-up and use the system and continue to do so in increasing numbers. We are very much looking forward to early next year when the benefits of the ROS system will be made available to our PAYE customers."
[Ends 24/11/2005]
Additional Information:
The Revenue On-Line Service (ROS) Revenue Commissioners
Launched in September 2000, the Revenue On-Line Service (ROS) is an internet based facility which provides Irish business with a free, secure, confidential, and easy to use facility to conduct their Revenue related transactions 24 hours a day 365 days of the year. At the touch of a button ROS customers can access the latest information on their tax accounts, file returns, and make payments for more than 20 different taxes and duties.
In 2001 and 2003 ROS was awarded an eGovernment 'Good Practice' label in recognition of the fact that it ranks amongst the very best practices of eGovernment in Europe. This year's entry is based on developments in ROS since then:
- New taxes and duties which have been added to the service since 2003
- Functionality added to the service as a result of consultation with our customers and other interested parties
- Phenomenal take up in the service in the last two years
- The considerable savings to Revenue from the service
- How other Administrations are learning from ROS.
Figures up again in 2005
By midnight on 17th November (the tax deadline for electronic filers) a total of 205,887 income tax returns were filed through Revenue's on-line services (ROS). 65% of timely filers used the electronic route this year. This compares very favourably with 53% last year and 40% and 9% in the preceding years.
Online payment of tax also increased this year with over €1.4 billion paid this year compared to €923 million at the same time last year.
A record number of returns (over 25,000 which is 8,000 higher than the previous record) were successfully filed on the final day.
Further Information: http://www.e-europeawards.org 